The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seeking assistance from IRS agents for a large-scale deportation operation, marking a significant shift in immigration enforcement strategy.
At a Glance
- DHS requests IRS criminal investigators to help trace undocumented migrants through financial documents
- Trump administration considers using Guantanamo Bay for detaining undocumented immigrants
- Deportation flights began on January 23, targeting sanctuary cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles
- The estimated cost of deporting all 11 million undocumented immigrants is $315 billion
- Mexico is preparing for deportations by building shelters and erecting tents in border towns
IRS Agents Enlisted for Immigration Enforcement
In a move to bolster immigration enforcement efforts, the Department of Homeland Security is reaching out to the Internal Revenue Service for assistance.
They’re targeting illegals – not you.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has requested IRS criminal investigators to aid in tracing undocumented migrants through financial documents. This unprecedented collaboration between tax authorities and immigration enforcement signals a new era in the government’s approach to addressing illegal immigration.
The Trump administration’s deportation plans are taking shape with a multi-pronged approach. Deportation flights commenced on January 23, with initial targets being sanctuary cities such as Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. These cities have long been at odds with federal immigration policies, and the administration’s focus on them underscores the intensifying conflict between local and federal authorities on immigration matters.
Exclusive: Homeland Security has asked the Treasury secretary to deputize IRS criminal investigators to assist in immigration enforcement https://t.co/YdIEbMHBGk
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) February 10, 2025
Guantanamo Bay: A New Front in Immigration Detention
The Trump administration is also reportedly exploring the use of Guantanamo Bay to detain undocumented immigrants – a plan that has further caused distress among Democrats who want to keep the borders open.
Plans are underway to construct a facility capable of housing up to 30,000 deported migrants, with a “tent city” already being established. This development has raised concerns among human rights advocates and immigration lawyers about the conditions and legal implications of detaining immigrants at a facility historically used for terrorism suspects.
The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Illinois and Chicago, claiming their immigration policies interfere with federal efforts. This legal action highlights the growing tension between federal immigration enforcement and sanctuary city policies. Meanwhile, ICE has been granted expanded powers to make arrests in previously protected venues such as schools and churches, further intensifying the crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
The administration’s aggressive deportation strategy is not without its challenges. Budget shortfalls and the need for congressional approval for additional funding pose significant hurdles that Trump needs to get over. The estimated cost of deporting all 11 million undocumented immigrants stands at a staggering $315 billion, which Democrats have repeatedly cited as a reason not to go ahead with it – even though it’s less than the cost of keeping illegals here.